Premier League CEO says it’s time for action on Man City’s charges

Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters gave an exclusive interview to BBC Sport this on Tuesday, where he revealed his thoughts on the 115 charges against Manchester City for breaching Premier League financial rules.  
 
Manchester City were officially charged in February 2023. Masters would not reveal when the independent commission looking into the charges will take place. However, he said that he welcomes a hearing into Man City and that it was time for the entire issue to be resolved.

115 charges explained 

Richard Masters spoke to the BBC on Tuesday about the state of the league and some of the storylines heading into ahead of EPL Matchweek 1.  
 
One of the biggest stories looming over the league are the 115 charges levied against Manchester City for breaching EPL financial rules.  
 
In February 2023, the Premier League alleged that Man City had intentionally misled league regulators about their finances.  
 
The Cityzens allegedly used fake sponsorships and connections in Abu Dhabi to inflate their income and gain an unfair competitive advantage.  

‘Time to resolve charges’ - EPL CEO 

There has not been much progress in the case against Manchester City since charges were announced in February 2023. However, that could be about to change.  
 
The BBC and other outlets have reported that an independent commission will hear the charges against Manchester City sometime next month.  
 
Masters, speaking to the BBC, would not confirm the date of the hearing. However, he says it’s time for a resolution.  
 
“It is time now for the case to resolve itself,” Masters said.  
 
“It's been going on for a number of years and I think it's self-evident that the case needs to be heard and answered.. 
 
“When the case has been heard there will be a decision published and all the questions you would like me to answer will be answered as part of that process,” Masters added.  
 
In an unrelated case, Manchester City have also sued the Premier League for tightening their sponsorship rules. That case is set to be resolved in the next few weeks.  

Manchester City relegation odds 

While we don’t know much about the upcoming hearing, the potential punishments against Man City could be disastrous for the club. Points deductions, transfer bans, and even forced relegation are all on the table.  
 
Some punters have read the tea leaves and started to bet against Pep Guardiola's side. Some international betting sites have Manchester City with odds as low as $9.00 to be relegated this season.  

Our money is on the Cityzens to survive this season. Who knows though. If we’re wrong and the independent commission brings the hammer down on City, a few brave bettors stand to make a lot of money.